Good news.
Recent changes to employment litigation law are a boon for Tennessee employers in their defense of discrimination and retaliation claims.
Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam has signed into law a bill that places caps on the availability of non-monetary damages that Tennessee employees can seek under three acts:
- Tennessee Human Rights Act (THRA)
- Tennessee Disability Act (TDA)
- Tennessee Public Protection Act (TPPA)
Here is an overview of the new law’s provisions:
- The law removes individual liability from supervisors or agents for employment discrimination under the THRA. This change aligns that law with federal non-discrimination laws.
- The new law eliminates common law claims for “retaliatory discharge” in any litigation that could be brought under the TPPA. In the past, employees could file both common law and statutory claims for “whistleblowing.”
- Non-monetary (e.g., pain, suffering, embarrassment, humiliation, mental anguish, loss of enjoyment of life) damage caps range from $25,000 to $300,000, depending upon the number of people employed.
- The new law applies to causes of action starting July 1, 2014.
Wood Personnel – Minimizing Employment Risks and Liability for Middle TN Employers
As a leading Nashville staffing firm, we provide all types of businesses with tools and services that reduce the risks inherent to hiring and human resource management. Here are four areas in which we can help:
- avoiding bad hires
- alleviating burnout
- preventing legal and compliance issues
- reducing the need for layoffs
Staff your business smarter. Contact Wood Personnel today for a free consultation.
